Students of De Soto High School and their families all celebrate the holidays a little differently. Many families have unique traditions that help spread the cheer during this time of year.

Junior Kelsey Plake begins celebrating the holidays on Dec. 6 when all of her family members lay out a shoe outside of their door. The family goes to sleep and during the night Saint Nicholas leaves a gift in their shoe. In the morning, the family gets up and enjoys their gifts.

This is similar to a custom celebrated in the France. In this instance, Father Christmas, otherwise known as Père Noël, brings small gifts and sweets for children on Dec. 6. which is the feast day of Saint Nicholas.

On Christmas Day, senior Lindsay Everson and sophomore Emily Everson determine who will open gifts first in a unique way. The night before, their parents hide an ornament somewhere on the tree. In the morning, the first one to find the ornament is allowed to open their gifts first.

This tradition hails from Germany. After one’s family finishes decorating a tree, the parents hide the pickle in the night. The first child to discover the pickle receives an extra gift.

On the five days leading up to New Year’s Day, junior Katie Contrearas and her family host a five-day party. During the parties, the family enjoys one another’s company, eats plentifully and plays games. On the final day, the family simply finishes what is left of the party food and proceeds on with life.

On New Year’s Eve, junior Oscar Chavez utilizes grapes to bring in the new year. This is a tradition that hails from Spain. At midnight, each member of the family is supposed to eat 12 grapes at once. This is to ensure that each person will have 12 happy months ahead in the new year.